If you only knew what God is offering
you would have been the one to ask,
and he would have given you living water.
Let anyone who believes in me come and drink!
He was speaking of the Spirit which those who believed in him were to receive;
There was no Spirit as yet because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
October 25, 2010
Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Brothers and sisters:
Be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.
Be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.
Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love,
as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us
as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you,
as is fitting among holy ones,
no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place,
but instead, thanksgiving.
Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person,
that is, an idolater,
has any inheritance in theKingdom of Christ
as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us
as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you,
as is fitting among holy ones,
no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place,
but instead, thanksgiving.
Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person,
that is, an idolater,
has any inheritance in the
Let no one deceive you with empty arguments,
for because of these things
the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.
So do not be associated with them.
For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light.
for because of these things
the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.
So do not be associated with them.
For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light.
God in Jesus is the model for us all: His attitude to sinners, his attitude to those who persecuted him, his forgiveness on the Cross. To be like him is to be a Christian. We must learn to feel his compassion for those who suffer. He gave his life on the Cross for those who hated him in order to save them. Why? Because his love was greater than their hate. To live in love is to live in the light. Obscenity in any form is darkness because it denies love.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see Eph. 5:1) Behave like God as his very dear children.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
Gospel
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years
had been crippled by a spirit;
she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
But the leader of the synagogue,
indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,
said to the crowd in reply,
“There are six days when work should be done.
Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.”
The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath
untie his ox or his ass from the manger
and lead it out for watering?
This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,
ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day
from this bondage?”
When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;
and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years
had been crippled by a spirit;
she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
But the leader of the synagogue,
indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,
said to the crowd in reply,
“There are six days when work should be done.
Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.”
The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath
untie his ox or his ass from the manger
and lead it out for watering?
This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,
ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day
from this bondage?”
When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;
and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.
Sickness is not God’s will. It isn’t from him. “Satan has bound (her) for eighteen years”. Sickness is not necessarily a direct result of sin either but we live in a world polluted by Satan. “She was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect”. Are we not all in some way like her? Jesus came to rid the world of Satan even though he is an obstinate enemy. Victory will one day be ours through him. “She at once stood up straight and glorified God”. Everything that comes from God is for the health and wellbeing of man. When we are “filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph3) then we will all stand erect and praise Him. Jesus worked this miracle in the synagogue and on the Sabbath. Everything in the Church should work towards the complete liberation of man.. Do you see Jesus at work in the Church?
October 26, 2010
Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Brothers and sisters:
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the Church,
he himself the savior of the Body.
As the Church is subordinate to Christ,
so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the Church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the Church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the Church,
because we are members of his Body.
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the Church,
he himself the savior of the Body.
As the Church is subordinate to Christ,
so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the Church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the Church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the Church,
because we are members of his Body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.
In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself,
and the wife should respect her husband.
but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.
In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself,
and the wife should respect her husband.
Every family receives its name from God the Father in heaven (Eph3:14) and likewise every marriage receives its meaning from the ideal marriage of Jesus Son of God, with his Church. He loves his community and everyone in it with an indissoluble love. He sacrificed himself for his ‘Bride” on the Cross to make her holy and spotless. He will never abandon his community or any member of it. He is always ready to give his life for them. He longs for his community and for each member of it. He is the model for every Christian husband. Likewise the response of the Church in its faith and holiness to Christ is the model of every wife.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (1a) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
Gospel
Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”
Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
The stress is not the smallness or greatness of the seed but the inner power that makes it grow from ‘nothing’. Likewise, the power of God makes the Kingdom grow from insignificance to the final state of the Parousia. Then it will embrace all peoples. The mustard seed grows in soil. How are we to plant it? The point is not the digging but being the mustard seed. We are to be the embodiment of the Kingdom. We need to be full of love for Jesus, and then we will be alive in the Spirit. As with Jesus our humanity must blossom and we will radiate the Kingdom through the Spirit-filled virtues of goodness, kindness, generosity, humility, self sacrifice for others and love for God and all his children. We may not see the effect but we will be the leaven influencing all around us. Are you the leaven?
October 27, 2010
Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Honor your father and mother.
This is the first commandment with a promise,
that it may go well with you
and that you may have a long life on earth.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,
but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.
Honor your father and mother.
This is the first commandment with a promise,
that it may go well with you
and that you may have a long life on earth.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,
but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.
Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling,
in sincerity of heart, as to Christ,
not only when being watched, as currying favor,
but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
willingly serving the Lord and not men,
knowing that each will be requited from the Lord
for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Masters, act in the same way towards them, and stop bullying,
knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven
and that with him there is no partiality.
in sincerity of heart, as to Christ,
not only when being watched, as currying favor,
but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
willingly serving the Lord and not men,
knowing that each will be requited from the Lord
for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Masters, act in the same way towards them, and stop bullying,
knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven
and that with him there is no partiality.
We don’t deserve any reward but Jesus will give us a reward for whatever we do. Paul specifies here in his society how we are to love others, which is the only command that Jesus has given us. Slavery in Roman society was not like the slavery we know from the oppression of peoples in different parts of the world. Slaves belonged to their masters but often held highly responsible posts and had the opportunity both to earn wealth and get their freedom.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (13c) The Lord is faithful in all his words.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
Gospel
Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way toJerusalem
Someone asked him,
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
He answered them,
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.’
And you will say,
‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’
Then he will say to you,
‘I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!’
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in theKingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in theKingdom of God
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.”
teaching as he went and making his way to
Someone asked him,
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
He answered them,
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.’
And you will say,
‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’
Then he will say to you,
‘I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!’
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.”
What is the narrow door Jesus is speaking about? Surely it is Jesus himself. In John’s Gospel he says “I am the door”. This is a metaphor. It is through our personal relationship with Jesus that we gain entrance into the Life of God. Those who are the close friends of Jesus have a guaranteed entrance. How can he refuse his intimate friends? It is not by simply being a Catholic or whatever, merely keeping rules, going to Church, saying some prayers, being a member of the church choir etc that we gain entry. It is by loving Jesus and accepting his invitation to be his friend. How do we know if we are truly his friends? “If you love me, you will keep my Word”. His Word is that we love others in the way he loves them. By loving others we gain entrance. Will you be there?
October 28, 2010
Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Brothers and sisters:
You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Those who are in Christ Jesus are members of God’s family now and so heirs even now to all the Father’s blessings. Our community has been founded by the apostles and they were the ones who were the intimate friends and disciples of Jesus in his lifetime. Jesus himself is the head of his community. The community is one in the Spirit with Jesus and so is the dwelling place of God. But is this our experience? It should become a lived experience.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (5a) Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
Gospel
Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Anyone who wants to do anything for God should learn to pray as Jesus did. He spent the whole night in silent union with his Father. This was the source of his strength. The apostles were conceived in his prayer to the Father. An apostle is called to live with Jesus and witness to the Resurrection. An apostle is an ambassador of Jesus, making him present and proclaiming his message to the world. The apostles have a special role in the Church but all in some way share in their vocation. This is the apostolate of each Christian. We too are called to be with Jesus and witness to his Resurrection. We are witnesses to this by being transformed ourselves and living with the fullness of life. Do you live a life of union with Jesus? Is the power of his Resurrection manifested in you?
October 29, 2010
Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus,
to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are inPhilippi ,
with the bishops and deacons:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in
with the bishops and deacons:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you,
praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
because of your partnership for the Gospel
from the first day until now.
I am confident of this,
that the one who began a good work in you
will continue to complete it
until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right that I should think this way about all of you,
because I hold you in my heart,
you who are all partners with me in grace,
both in my imprisonment
and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel.
For God is my witness,
how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer:
that your love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value,
so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.
praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
because of your partnership for the Gospel
from the first day until now.
I am confident of this,
that the one who began a good work in you
will continue to complete it
until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right that I should think this way about all of you,
because I hold you in my heart,
you who are all partners with me in grace,
both in my imprisonment
and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel.
For God is my witness,
how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer:
that your love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value,
so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (2) How great are the works of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
This letter is one that has come to us directly from the hand of Paul. It reveals his great love for the Philippians. He is their founder and pastor and loves and cares for each member of the community. He writes with great joy and his life and theirs is centred on Christ Jesus. He himself, he says, is a slave of Christ Jesus. Their faith (and ours) is the work of God and he prays that God will bring his work to perfection. He is in prison and he longs for the people of Philippi . He prays that they will grow in love so that when the Lord comes and Paul thinks he will come soon they will be perfect. It is love based on true knowledge and understanding that fills us with righteousness.
Gospel
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy.
Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking,
“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?”
But they kept silent; so he took the man and,
after he had healed him, dismissed him.
Then he said to them
“Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern,
would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?”
But they were unable to answer his question.
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy.
Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking,
“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?”
But they kept silent; so he took the man and,
after he had healed him, dismissed him.
Then he said to them
“Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern,
would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?”
But they were unable to answer his question.
The Sabbath was a day of rest - of renewal of the mind, spirit and body after the week of work. It was then a day of healing. It was a break to rejoice in all God’s gifts and offer thanks - a day of joy. There was time to listen to his Word and praise him – a day for prayer. Jesus fulfils this purpose in healing the man with dropsy. He did it despite the moralistic legalism of the Pharisees. Sunday, the Day of the Lord, is a day of joy in the Lord’s Salvation as we look forward to our perfect healing. It is break from our labours to be what we are, the children of God and we celebrate this in love for others. We celebrate the ever abiding presence of Jesus, Brother, Saviour and Lord. Is Sunday a day of holy and human celebration for you?
October 30, 2010
Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Brothers and sisters:
As long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth,
Christ is being proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
As long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth,
Christ is being proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Indeed I shall continue to rejoice,
for I know that this will result in deliverance for me
through your prayers and support from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
My eager expectation and hope
is that I shall not be put to shame in any way,
but that with all boldness, now as always,
Christ will be magnified in my body,
whether by life or by death.
For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.
I am caught between the two.
I long to depart this life and be with Christ,
for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.
And this I know with confidence,
that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of you
for your progress and joy in the faith,
so that your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me
when I come to you again.
for I know that this will result in deliverance for me
through your prayers and support from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
My eager expectation and hope
is that I shall not be put to shame in any way,
but that with all boldness, now as always,
Christ will be magnified in my body,
whether by life or by death.
For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.
I am caught between the two.
I long to depart this life and be with Christ,
for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.
And this I know with confidence,
that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of you
for your progress and joy in the faith,
so that your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me
when I come to you again.
There are problems in Philippi . There are other Christian preachers who teach differently from Paul and sometimes totally contradict him. He is concerned, but also happy that Jesus is being preached. Whatever their motives for preaching if people come to know Jesus better, Paul is happy. He makes the statement of his life: for me life is Christ. He is someone totally in love with the Lord Jesus and lives and breathes for him alone. This is the summit of the Christian life. However he submits his desire to be with Christ to his responsibility to give his life too in service to his community.
Responsorial Psalm
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.As the hind longs for the running waters,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
Gospel
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
‘Give your place to this man,’
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
‘Give your place to this man,’
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus is not teaching us to make a name for ourselves. He is talking of the Kingdom. We are the children of a Father who loves us and is generous beyond our imagining. He is the one who has given us everything we have and wants to share with us everything he has. We don’t have to earn it. He longs to give it. All we need do to be “a first-born son” is to stretch out our hands in love humbly acknowledging that the Father is the source of everything. We are to realize with joy that he brought us into being from nothing and that we are totally dependent on him. When we do this we open the door for him to request us “to move up higher” even to the very throne of God (Rev.3:21). You are chosen. Do you rejoice in being humble and being human?
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